Chevrolet Malibu

Chevy’s mid-size family may get an “A” for effort, but it’s still bringing up the rear against the competition. After its recent makeover—with a new nose and an upgraded interior—the exterior styling is now crisper, but the cabin remains cramped. Power comes from two four-cylinder engines—a base 2.5-liter or a 2.0-liter turbo—both mated to a six-speed automatic. The structure is solid but the steering is numb, which is actually a metaphor for the whole car. It’s competent, but not compelling. Future Cars – 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Spy Photos

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Spy Photos: Ditchin' Camaro

Bigger, sleeker, and without the Camaro taillights.

What It Is: The next-generation Chevrolet Malibu mid-size sedan buried under a pile of black tarps. The pictures nevertheless have a tale to tell, starting with the clear indication that the car will grow. More specifically, the car appears to have stretched in the rear door area, which indicates that Chevy is bent on rectifying its rear-seat legroom deficit. It’s been a major sore spot for buyers since the Malibu was placed on the shorter version of GM’s Epsilon platform back in 2013. The door skins themselves also appear to have a tapering scallop, à la current Mercedes-Benz C- and S-class models, which is a different and more elegant treatment than the shoulder-line creases of the current Impala.

The front end likely will adopt the stern look that makes the new Impala so fetching. In these shots, it features low-mounted, horizontally oriented headlamps and camo-covered bars spanning the width of the car, indicating that the Malibu’s stacked-grille treatment may carry over. A square section of Velcro in the upper-grille area indicates the presence of a sensor for cruise control and forward obstacle warning, probably embedded in the bow-tie emblem.

Out back, the rear window stretches almost to the trailing edge of the trunk, giving it an almost Audi A7–style level of slinkiness. Viewed from directly behind, the decklid arches elegantly from fender to fender. It also looks as if the Malibu will ditch the high-set Camaro-inspired dual-element taillamps (which the Camaro itself ditched for 2014) in favor of lower, single-lens unit.

Why It Matters: The mid-size-sedan segment has plateaued somewhat, but that doesn’t make it any less important—the public purchases a ton of the things—or less competitive. The current Malibu has been a disappointment in both sales and in its dynamics, and GM’s rushed midcycle enhancement for 2014 hasn’t helped move the meter much. It appears that the company has fast-tracked the car’s replacement, too, and it can’t come a moment too soon.

Platform: The 2016 Malibu likely will retain GM’s global Epsilon II platform, although we expect it to use a freshly updated version with, potentially, optional all-wheel drive.

Powertrain: The Malibu is likely to carry over the current car’s naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder as the base engine and its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as an upgrade. One of GM’s new family of small turbocharged engines may be offered, perhaps in an eco-minded model. A full-on hybrid is a possibility down the road, and rumblings have grown stronger recently regarding an SS model that would follow the example of the Buick Regal GS.

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